Starmer Stepping Up as Budget Fallout Continues for Reeves.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has set his sights on shifting the focus away from Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget and onto the government's overall economic strategy. In an attempt to distance himself and his finance minister from the controversy surrounding the chancellor, Starmer plans to deliver a speech on Monday that seeks to refocus attention on the government's long-term goals.
At the center of this effort is the Labour party's plan for economic reform, which includes welfare changes and deregulation. The prime minister has emphasized that this program represents a "big, bold long-term plan" rather than a set of quick fixes.
The chancellor's office is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of tax policy, with accusations emerging from the Conservatives that Rachel Reeves misled the public about the true motivations behind her decision to raise taxes.
Critics argue that Reeves used reduced productivity forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as a smokescreen for tax hikes. The OBR has downgraded its predictions on productivity but upgraded its forecasts for wages and tax receipts, ultimately leaving Reeves with a surplus rather than a deficit.
Reeves' allies claim she needed to increase taxes to boost her buffer against unexpected costs and protect government borrowing costs. However, the public remains skeptical about the chancellor's ability to manage the economy, with polling showing just 16% of voters believe she is doing a good job – a sentiment that has not changed significantly since before the budget.
As the row over Reeves' tax policy continues, Starmer is banking on voters eventually feeling the impact of Labour's long-term economic reforms. With many Britons still waiting for their daily lives to improve, time may be a luxury he does not have.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has set his sights on shifting the focus away from Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget and onto the government's overall economic strategy. In an attempt to distance himself and his finance minister from the controversy surrounding the chancellor, Starmer plans to deliver a speech on Monday that seeks to refocus attention on the government's long-term goals.
At the center of this effort is the Labour party's plan for economic reform, which includes welfare changes and deregulation. The prime minister has emphasized that this program represents a "big, bold long-term plan" rather than a set of quick fixes.
The chancellor's office is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of tax policy, with accusations emerging from the Conservatives that Rachel Reeves misled the public about the true motivations behind her decision to raise taxes.
Critics argue that Reeves used reduced productivity forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as a smokescreen for tax hikes. The OBR has downgraded its predictions on productivity but upgraded its forecasts for wages and tax receipts, ultimately leaving Reeves with a surplus rather than a deficit.
Reeves' allies claim she needed to increase taxes to boost her buffer against unexpected costs and protect government borrowing costs. However, the public remains skeptical about the chancellor's ability to manage the economy, with polling showing just 16% of voters believe she is doing a good job – a sentiment that has not changed significantly since before the budget.
As the row over Reeves' tax policy continues, Starmer is banking on voters eventually feeling the impact of Labour's long-term economic reforms. With many Britons still waiting for their daily lives to improve, time may be a luxury he does not have.
starmer is trying to pivot from his own finance mess but it's gonna be hard for him to shake off the controversy surrounding reeves' budget 
and now everyone's on his case too 
i mean, can't they just focus on the facts for once? 
like, starmer's got a long-term plan and all that jazz, but how is anyone supposed to trust it when there are still so many unanswered questions about reeves' tax policy? 
and what's with 16% of voters saying reeves is doing a good job? 
seems like the public's just not getting the info they need to make an informed decision 
. sounds like starmer wants to move away from the controversy & onto something more promising 
. but, gotta ask, what makes ppl think labour's reform will be any better? they're still using the same old policies, just with a new spin 
. and let's be real, the public is still super skeptical of reeves' handling of the economy 
... it's like, can't we all just agree on something that'll actually make our lives better? 
She's got her team saying she needs more wiggle room in case of unexpected costs, but what about the rest of us who are struggling to make ends meet? 
But what's concerning me is that voters are still super skeptical about her economic management skills. It's like, what's Labour gonna do to make things better for the average person? 
They've got this long-term plan, but when does it kick in? And how much time will Starmer have left before he has to show some real results? 
The pressure is on! 
. It's only gonna get more intense as the public gets more and more fed up with the government's handling of taxes. 16% of voters think Reeves is doing a good job? That's gotta be a pretty rough number 
.